Mr. President, I offer you congratulations on your service not only to
this most historic conference, but also for your decades of commitment to
the employer delegations to the International Labor Organization--and,
indeed, to its entire tripartite membership.

Just like we meet in Geneva, over half a century ago leaders not unlike
ourselves met to adopt the Declaration of Philadelphia in response to the
cataclysmic circumstances of World War II. That Declaration set out a
clear international position on labor standards and their relationship
with social justice.

And we were honored today to hear from President Caldera of Venezuela
who recalled to us the critical historical significance of this document
and the continuing lessons that it holds for us. It has been the guiding
touchstone of our work in the second half of the 20th century. With only
the addition of a declaration in denunciation of apartheid--the
Declaration of Philadelphia has stood alone since.

Fifty years later, we stand at the brink of a new century and a rare
opportunity in the history of this organization. But times of opportunity
are also times of challenge and responsibility--and we must not lightly
consider the responsibility that such a moment imposes upon us. I refer,
of course, to whether we will adopt a new declaration on fundamental
rights and its follow-up mechanism.

I believe how we decide to resolve this matter will determine the
relevancy and role of this organization for, at least, the next half
century.

In 1998, we are being asked to decide whether the ILO will provide a new
and necessary reference point for a world looking for our response to the
process of economic globalization--a development that contains the
greatest potential promise, but which by itself cannot guarantee that its
benefits will be shared with the greatest possible number.

It is our solemn mandate to make more clear how to best secure the
benefits of globalization for the worlds workers in whose name we
pursue economic growth through greater international trade and investment.

That, after all, is the very purpose of a declaration -- to make clear
what we know to be true -- and to thereby deepen our will to act in that
knowledge. And we need a credible and meaningful follow-up mechanism to
assure that our declaration will be a living document for the 21st
century.

We know that the fundamental rights of workers -- the freedom of
association, the right of collective bargaining, non-discrimination in
employment, the prohibitions on forced labor and exploitative child labor
-- ought be implemented by all nations, and certainly by all who would
claim to be members in good standing of this organization. These rights
are justified on at least three grounds.

First, they are good economics. We know that global economic growth is
more likely to be broadly shared if we respect these basic rights.

Second, they are based on sound political principles. These rights are
the political path to reassure and indeed to make real, the opportunity
for the greatest number of workers to have a positive stake in the
economic globalization process.

Third, they are rooted in core values. It is a moral imperative to do
what we can to best assure that all of the worlds workers labor in
the basic dignity that is bound wholly together with the respect of these
rights.

Only two weeks ago President Clinton spoke to the World Trade
Organization. In that speech, he urged a new mandate for trade
negotiations and he urged that the ILO act to adopt the declaration and
follow-up mechanism. He did this in the understanding and conviction that
greater trade and securing the rights of workers are
mutually-reinforcing--not mutually exclusive.

I hope we might conclude our negotiations with the broadest possible
consensus on this point.

Let me also note, Mr. President, the great value the United States
places on the work of the International Program on the Elimination of
Child Labor -- IPEC -- and our intention to increase by ten-fold our
contribution to this program. The exploitation of children at work is a
direct challenge to the credibility of the ILO--and we must renew our
fight to eliminate it.

President Clinton has made this a priority. In his State of the Union
address earlier this year, the President singled out the United States
commitment to fighting abusive child labor. And I come to Geneva with
clear instructions directly from the President: to underline the United
States strong support for the negotiation of a new convention on the worst
forms of child labor.

I am going to participate in the drafting committee while I am here--and
President Clinton will continue to press this issue on the world stage
throughout the next year. We will work with world leaders and do all we
can to see that this convention is targeted, well focused and can be both
widely ratified and effective in its purpose.

There is only one word for forced and indentured labor...work by
children in hazardous conditions...or work by very young children--and
that is intolerable. As we enter the dawn of the 21st century, we must
leave the darkness of abusive child labor behind.

And the United States intends to lead by example.

This morning, I am announcing that we will work closely with U.S.
Senator Tom Harkin and others to modernize the United States domestic
child labor laws. We have made tremendous progress, but in parts of my
country, and parts of our economy, exploitation persists. So we are
stepping up our efforts to root out it out. One child working under
oppressive conditions is one too many.

As I conclude, let me acknowledge the fine and inspired leadership that
our Director-General has given us for the last decade. I believe he will
be leaving this organization stronger in its mission and clearer in its
international role than he found it. And that is the greatest mark of a
leader.

Over 50 years ago in Philadelphia, another great leader--my predecessor
as U.S. Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins--addressed the ILO as war was
raging across the globe.

She said at the time the ILO is an assembly of those who are
charged in the midst of war to lay one of the foundation stones of the
great peace--the stone of social justice--on which human hope and human
life can be rebuilt.

That remains the noble mission of this institution. And I look forward
to working with you as we continue to build--better lives for
workers...higher living standards for families...and a brighter future for
all.